Cassell's book of birds; vol. 1Brehm, Alfred Edmund
Science
Cassell's book of birds; vol. 1
Brehm, Alfred Edmund
Birds
The MASKED PARROT FINCH (_Caryothraustes Brasiliensis_) is closely
related to the last-mentioned bird. The formation of the beak is very
similar to that above described, but it is somewhat less arched, and
not quite so thick. The wings, which are comparatively long, reach when
folded half way down the remarkably short tail; the latter is slightly
rounded, and its exterior quills but little shorter than the rest; the
legs are weak, and the very thick plumage beautifully coloured. In size
this species resembles the common Hawfinch, being from six and a half
to seven inches long; the wings measure rather more than three inches,
and the tail three inches. The entire face is coal black; the brow,
region of the eye, top of the head, sides of the neck, lower part of the
throat, and middle of the belly, bright green; the breast and sides of
the body are shaded with a darker tint. The mantle is olive green, the
wing-feathers greyish brown, with a border of green edged with yellow.
The two middle feathers of the tail are almost entirely olive green,
the rest greyish green, with a yellowish shade upon the inner web; the
outer web is olive green. The eye is brown, the beak a brilliant black,
somewhat paler towards the base, which in the old birds is of a leaden
hue; the legs are reddish brown.
[Illustration: THE DOMINICAN FINCH (_Paroaria dominicana_).]
We know little or nothing of this bird beyond the fact that it inhabits
some parts of Brazil, and is generally found in small flocks in the
vicinity of woods and forests, or occasionally living solitarily or in
pairs.
* * * * *
THE HABIAS.
Under the name of HABIAS (_Saltator_) we shall include a group of South
American Parrot Finches that are distinguished by their thick beaks,
short wings, and long tails, the latter being rounded at the tip, as are
the wings. The first quill of the latter is much shorter than the rest,
the legs are very powerful, and the beak, which is black, high, and
compressed at its edge, is almost straight at the tip. The upper part of
the back and wings are of an olive green.
THE CAPI.
The CAPI (_Saltator cœrulescens_) is nearly of the same size as our
English Blackbird, being about eight inches long and twelve broad; the
wing measures four inches from the shoulder to the tip, and the tail
three and a half inches. The plumage upon the nape, back, and wings
is blueish grey, shaded with yellowish brown; the bridles and a line
over the eyes and throat are white, the latter being divided from the
chin by a black streak; the upper part of the breast is grey, and the
lower portion of the body of a paler shade; the wings and inner web of
the wings are a rusty yellow, spotted with grey; the tail a dark slate
colour, the beak brownish grey, and the feet a dusky black.
[Illustration: THE RARITA, OR RARA (_Phytotoma Rara_).]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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